Moatize mine

The Moatize mine in Mozambique is a metallurgical coal mine being developed by Vale (formerly known as CVRD).

Project details
Vale won the tender for exploration rights over the Moatize deposit in November 2004.

On its website Vale states that the mine is planned to "produce 11 Mtpa (million tons per annum) of coal per year for the next 35 years – 8.5 Mtpa of metallurgical coal (hard coking coal) and 2.5 Mtpa of thermal coal. Production is due to begin in 2011."

The mine’s output will be transported Sena railway to the port of Biera. The company states that the coal export terminal "will be built under a concession from the Mozambican government. One of the largest coal handling and preparation plants (CHPPs) in the world is being built, with the capacity to process 26 Mtpa of coal."

In its 2009 annual report, Vale states that it has 1,087 million tonnes of coal resources (both proven and probable) across all its mines and projects. However, of that total, 954 million are in the Moatize mine. The company states that the projected depletion date of the project is 2046.

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